Blogging block and other afflictions

This week I can’t blog. Seriously, I keep looking at a blank screen. I have a few titles and even with those in mind, I can’t seem to put any words beneath them.

I guess this is what they call ‘writer’s block’ or blogging block might be a better description.

So this lack of ideas and words led me to thinking about afflictions that I suffer from as a blogger and I secretly hope that I’m not the only one who suffers with these.

Firstly is the ‘blogging block’ that I am currently trying to cure. I love blogging and writing but sometimes, no matter how hard I try there is nothing there, I start and delete. I come up with a title and then I can’t think of anything else to write. Usually I moan about it a lot and then it passes, being a combination of tiredness, stress and too many things going on inside my head. I did really worry about it in the early days but now I don’t panic and I know that if I step away from the computer for a few days, the world most definitely does not end and the blog may lose a few page views but that really does not matter in the grand scheme of things.

Next up would be ‘repetitive blog syndrome’ and this is something that I suffer with a lot. I write a post and sit there basking smugly at my completed piece of work and then as I reread it, I have a vague recollection that I may have written something similar before. I have a quick flick back through the archives and the smugness soon wears off when I realise that I have written virtually the same post before. I am then forced to press delete, just in case I should rediscover my duplicated work at a later date and forget again that I have already posted it and end up with a blog that goes round in circles.

Bloggerhoea is rare but there are occasions ever so often when I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head, I can’t quite get them out quick enough. The symptoms are sitting hunched over the computer keyboard desperately trying to get my fingers to work as quickly as my brain and extreme fatigue from working far too late in the night and then not being able to switch off when I finally get myself into bed.

Bloggers eye is another problem that I get after prolonged use of a screen; both big and small. Especially late at night, I find my eyes take on a life of their own and I get a strange twitch that is not painful but really, really annoying. Along with the twitch comes a tiredness and soreness that is my body’s way of telling me to stop and usually I do as I know that I will regret it the next day if I don’t.

Blogsomnia is another one; lying awake unable to sleep due to a great blog idea that is buzzing around in my head. This happens usually just as I am about to drop off to sleep or during one of the many child-induced wake ups and I try to remind myself not to forget these ideas. Of course I usually do as I also have Blognesia which means that however hard I try, those brilliant ideas by the time I wake up again it has gone and then I spend the next few hours desperately searching around my head trying to find it. I must remember to put a notebook, pen and torch by the side of my bed to try and capture these moments of greatness. But I forget to do that too.

Luckily I have cured myself of Linky Rage. I think this affliction came with the early blogging enthusiasm and obsession which has worn off a little now. Most Linkies start at midnight and I would get my post ready and then either try and stay awake or hope that I would wake up during the night to try and get my post linked up with the first batch. If I was first, I used to get very excited and looking back, I am so glad that I am over that ridiculous phase. If I wake up in the night now, I am thinking about getting back to sleep rather than making a mad dash for my phone to link a post up. That is a good thing.

Social Media Thumbs or Bloggers Elbow. Now I cannot be the only person to have suffered with this affliction. The hours spent frantically typing blog posts or social media messages on your smart phone or tablet. It really can cause a type of repetitive strain injury. I do wonder sometimes if the humans of the future will all have oversized super thumbs as the evolution process takes smart phone use on board. If you do suffer with this the solution is to put the phone down of course and I’m not just talking five minutes either.

So that is my collection of blogging ailments and afflictions. Fortunately it would seem that my blogging block is cured for now anyway. Now if I could just remember those great ideas for posts that I have been having ….

I think a break does help, in the early days, I used to panic if I hadn’t blogged every day but now I am really laid back about it. I know what you mean about identity crisis though, I often have that problem too

I used to have a big case of the linky rage. I think I’ve calmed down a lot now though 🙂 I think it’s always nice to take a bit of a break if you feel the blogger block. Itll come back before you even give your mind a rest I bet.Notmyyearoff recently posted…How To Play Football At Age 3

Love this post! I don’t suffer from the block, but I’m aware some of my posts might start to get similar. I don’t THINK I’ve repeated any yet. I hope not.
I am definitely affected by the blogorhea. Sometimes I can’t get the posts down fast enough and I suddenly realise I’ve got nine draft posts and I still have more ideas!
I also get brilliant ideas (with completed fabulous words and phrases) when I’m running, but when I come to write the fabulous words and phrases are gone and the finished post is nowhere near as good as it was supposed to be!Sarah MumofThree World recently posted…The Gallery: What I’m doing right now #widrn

I have bloggers block at the moment too – too many other things on my mind I think! Love this post, have suffered from so many if these things over the past two years! XxSonya Cisco recently posted…Moving

It funny how phases of our blogging life come and go. If I don’t have or want to write about something, I relish the rest…eek! I also remember staying up until midnight for one linky. Now I really can’t be bothered with linkies at all. They just feel like an added pressure to me unless I enjoy them for the subject matter. I don’t like to feel restricted anymore. I love blogging but its an ever changing rollersoaster sometime, and you never know what you’ll feel like from one bump to the next.Amanda recently posted…Ana Snapshot : Out takes

I am exactly the same with linkies now, if I do more than one during the week, I spend the whole time trying to catch up with myself and then don’t seem to comment elsewhere; like you I like taking a more relaxed route.

Hee hee! Really love this! I have suffered with almost all of these, and have only been doing it a few months – so glad to hear I’m not alone! 🙂 It really is a world of it’s own – I love that we now have a medical dictionary to refer to too! 😉 x

I love this post so much. I think I’ve gone through all of this at some point during my blogging journey. I do quite like linkies at the moment, but I only join a select few as they can get quite a lot of work and I just don’t need masses of extra points on my to do list.Carolin recently posted…Woodford Bridge Country Club

Brilliant post! I definitely have Bloggers eye! It definitely is a thing! Glad that your Bloggers Block has cleared and looks like a step away from the computer has given you some great ideas xKirsty recently posted…The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Awh loved this! I seem to suffer from some of these quite often, in fact on a daily basis I have at least one! My latest post was written and read and looked at many times before being published – I was a little scared it was a little too ‘real’!Karen recently posted…Can someone please send me some Galaxy and coffee?

Oh, i know this only too well but yu put it into words so much better! Especially the repetitive posts.. I too llook smug over my posts from time to time and then it hits me that there is something else already out there which is similar and I get frustrated with myself. I think its normal that we go through all of these stages from time to time. I think as bloggers, it is hard to always come up with something fresh .. sometimes a good break does the mind and soul, good:)

I bloody love this! I thought it was just me. Thanks so much for making me not alone. I thought I was just a naive, new blogger, with a giant list of titles and ideas and nights awake trying to piece together my thoughts. Thank you and I hope you recover soon xxSarah (@tamingtwins) recently posted…10 Tips for The Easiest Ever Slow Cooked Caramel Sauce

REALLY funny post! I totally get all of this. Right now I’m on a blogging block, or whatever 😉 I think my block is because I’m putting so much writing energy on other platforms like Facebook and Twitter and I’m also doing a lot of offline writing. But I figure if I keep writing at least once every two weeks it won’t dry up completely… fingers crossed!Michelle recently posted…Personal branding for novelists: Image

I laughed all the way through this. I’m currently suffering from ‘real-life taking over’. I have so many ideas and want to make so many changes to my blog but have to be realistic – a spare half an hour a day does not lend itself to being a great blogger. Because of this lack of time, I’m a bit of a ‘green-eyed linkster’ – I have no idea how so many people have great looking blogs, write daily posts, and link up to every linky under the sun … and have children. What’s their secret??!Rachel – 3yearsandhome recently posted…My boys – right here, right now (April)